Main
Leong Utek
Broadly, I am interested in advancing healthcare research in Singapore through the study of individual differences. I am currently researching the cognitive-affective vulnerabilities to internalising psychopathology from a network perspective. My specific research interests include:
- Hierarchical and network approaches to psychopathology
- History of psychology/psychiatry
- Individual differences in treatment adherence and its associated processes
To supplement my training as a psychological researcher, I have also been pursuing collaboration with researchers from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Duke-NUS Medical School to broaden my exposure to research in the health domain.
Education
PhD Student, Psychology
Department of Psychology, National Univeristy of Singapore
N/A
Current - 2021
- Advisor: Associate Professor Ryan Y. Hong.
B.Soc.Sc, Psychology with Honours (Highest Distinction)
Department of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University
N/A
2021 - 2017
- CGPA 4.53/5.00; relevant coursework: Applied Statistical Methods for Psychological Research, Psychological Testing, Introduction to Functional Neuroimaging, Cognitive Neuroplasticity.
- Thesis titled “Psychological predictors of short-term lower-limb orthotic device adherence: an exploratory study” supervised by Dr Kinjal Doshi, former Principal Clinical Psychologist, Singapore General Hospital.
Semester Exchange
Univeristy of Melbourne
N/A
2019 - 2019
- WAM 83.25 (equivalent to First Class Honours); relevant coursework: Minds and Madness, Development of the Thinking Child, Trends in Personality and Social Psychology, The Integrated Brain.
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Duke-NUS Medical School
N/A
Current - 2021
- Coordinating a longitudinal mHealth intervention study (Stay Well @ NUS), a collaboration between researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School, NUS Health & Wellbeing, Office of the President, and UC Berkeley.
Graduate Research Assistant
Personality and Psychopathology Lab, National University of Singapore
N/A
2022 - 2022
- Coordinated a research project investigating proximal cognitive vulnerabilities and their association with internalising symptoms of psychopathology.
Associate Clinical Research Coordinator
Department of Psychology, Singapore General Hospital
N/A
2021 - 2021
- Coordinated a collaborative project between the Department of Psychology and Department of Podiatry that I proposed to investigate the psychological determinants of lower-limb orthotic device adherence. This research study was executed to fulfil the thesis requirement of my undergraduate degree.
- Collaborated with a team of researchers on the development and validation of a novel mindfulness questionnaire designed for the Singaporean context.
- Assisted in the screening (via the Mini-Mental State Examination) and recruitment of stroke survivors and their caregivers for stroke rehabilitation research projects.
Clinical Research Intern
Department of Psychology, Singapore General Hospital
N/A
2020 - 2019
- Generated a mindfulness item pool designed for the Singaporean context; conducted several cognitive interviews to ensure the suitability and intelligibility of these items.
- Conducted literature reviews on topics such as second victim syndrome, stroke intervention adherence, and questionnaire construction.
- Assisted in other research projects assessing the efficacy of mindfulness-based group interventions in clinical populations (e.g. stroke, sleep difficulties).
Student Researcher
NTU Touch Lab, Nanyang Technological University
N/A
2019 - 2018
- Supervised by Associate Professor Ryo Kitada and Dr Achille Pasqualotto
- Conducted independent research to examine the multisensory relationships between plesantness and softness.
Teaching Experience
Abnormal Psychology (PL3106)
Department of Psychology, National Univeristy of Singapore
N/A
2022
Biological Psychology (PL3102)
Department of Psychology, National Univeristy of Singapore
N/A
2021
Introduction to Clinical Psychology (PL3257)
Department of Psychology, National Univeristy of Singapore
N/A
2022
Presentations
Evaluating mindfulness self-report questionnaires for scale development in a Singapore context: A focus group discussion
Henderson, S. L., Sugumar, L., Leong, U., & Doshi, K.
N/A
2020
- Conference presentation at the The Mind & Life 2020 Contemplative Research Conference
Presenting authors are underlined.
Preprints
Participant Engagement in Micro-Randomized Trials of mHealth Interventions: A Scoping Review
Leong, U., Chakraborty, B.
N/A
2022
- The preprint for this scoping review is available on PsyArXiv